Sox Populi - A Chicago White Sox podcast

We had the full South Side Sox minors crew together (Joe Resis, Kristina Airdo, Melissa Sage-Bollenbach, Hannah Filippo) joining host and reluctant minor league recapper Brett Ballantini to discuss recent trends and the overall look of the system, along with discovering how badly Brett can beat a bad joke into the ground. With a full crew, we opted for a potluck approach this time around, so here...

Michael "Lux" Farina joined Chrystal for a quick update on Kansas City and a series preview. The Royals will make the trip up to Chicago for a three-game set full of good pitching matchups. Here is what we talked about: What's new in Kansas City? Jac Caglianone's recent call-up and first MLB hit Who did Michael pick for last place in power rankings this year? All-Star game picks Chase Meidroth Rat...

Brandon Day of Bless You Boys joined to discuss the Tigers and help break down the series. Having quite a year, the Tigers have stormed into first place in the AL Central, reminding everyone that they are the team to beat. And they're only getting healthier, and unfortunately, better. Here is what Chrystal and Brandon talked about: The Javy Báez resurgence: from injury to center field star What's...

With the advertised deadline for trading Luis Robert Jr. gone, duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast corespondent, Will, start off looking at some other trade possibilities. Will suggests Miguel Vargas’ resurrection may not be for real and this would be a good time to trade him and get valuable returns. Leigh suggests one of the young starting pitchers, maybe Jonathan Cannon, despite...

Dream, of For The Numbers Fantasy, joined Chrystal to chat about the sorry state of the Baltimore Orioles and help preview the upcoming series. The White Sox and Orioles face each other in what could be a mid-off after a slow start from the O's, and well, Chicago being uninspiring after a painful, record-breaking season in 2024. Here is what we talked about: What's new with the Orioles Was Brandon...

Jesse Spector joined the show to chat about the New York Mets and the upcoming series with the White Sox. Could Chrystal have answered all of these questions, considering her dual fandom? Yeah. But what is the fun in that? Here is what they talked about: What's new with the Mets? Hot April, cold May Juan Soto has had a slow start, and Pete Alonso has been streaky at best Will the Rockies lose 122?...

In the seventh episode of the 2025 season, Kristina Airdo, South Side Sox writer/editor and Sox Populi podcaster, joins host Melissa Sage-Bollenbach to discuss several topics related to baseball, sports, and our beloved — or despised, depending on the day — South Siders. Whether you're a die-hard White Sox fan or not, there's something for everyone. So, sit back, relax, and grab your favorite beve...

Bayleigh and Chrystal are back to chat about what's new in Major League Baseball: The Red Sox and White Sox are bad The Tigers managed to get it right What on earth happened to the Orioles? Rafael Devers drama Red Sox City Connects and how team stores suck Pete Rose Kolten Wong retires at 34 after not playing since 2023 The other side of 30 can be good or bad Aaron Judge — is he human? The Twins h...

Berlin Kofoed, also known as Cube, joined to discuss the upcoming Chicago White Sox-Seattle Mariners series. Despite the piled-up injuries and lack of pitching depth, the Mariners still lead the American League West and have maintained a winning record. Here is what we talked about: What's new with the Mariners? Were offseason needs met? Would've, Could've, Should've: Pete Alonso edition Thoughts...

Sara Sanchez from Bleed Cubbie Blue joined to chat about the upcoming Crosstown series and what's going on over on the North Side. The Cubs have been on fire lately, leading the National League Central, but not everything is perfect at The Friendly Confines. Sara talked about the issues Chicago's other baseball team sees, and the chaos that always ensues during this particular series. Here is what...

Is it sheer coincidence that with a White Sox fan in charge of things in the Vatican the team won three out of four prior to this recording? Duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and current Ohio Valley correspondent (while doing a play in Cincinnati) Will delve into the papal impact, as Will points out that suffering is a major factor in Catholicism, which could well explain why Leo XIV became a Wh...

In the sixth episode of the 2025 season, Allie Wesel, South Side Sox writer/editor and Sox Populi podcaster, joins host Melissa Sage-Bollenbach and guest Courtney Finnicum to discuss several topics related to baseball, sports, and our beloved — or despised, depending on the day — South Siders. Whether you're a die-hard White Sox fan or not, there's something for everyone. So, sit back, relax, and...

Wick Terrell, editor of Red Reporter, is back to talk about the upcoming White Sox opponent, the Cincinnati Reds. The last time we chatted was ahead of the Eloy Jiménez appendicitis series in May 2023. But with a new manager (Terry Francona) and the absence of long-time Red Joey Votto, we're looking at a fresh team. Here is what we talked about: What's new with the Reds? Rating the offseason Will...

In the fifth episode of the 2025 season, Hannah Flippo, South Side Sox writer/editor and Sox Populi writer/podcaster, joins host Melissa Sage-Bollenbach to discuss several topics related to baseball, sports, and our beloved — or despised, depending on the day — South Siders. Whether you're a die-hard White Sox fan or not, there's something for everyone. So, sit back, relax, and grab your favorite...

The incomparable Chris Towers joined the podcast to give an update on the Marlins, break down the series, and make jokes about being old. You might know Chris from his work over at CBS Sports and the Fantasy Baseball Today newsletter. Here is what we discussed: What's new with the Marlins Rating the offseason Is this a rebuild? Kim Ng's plague upon both houses Thoughts about the 2025 season for th...

Continuing our 600th podcast celebration, Brett Ballantini had the Sharing Sox duo of Leigh and Will Allan on, for the very first time together, the mothership. We attempted to make zero references to the 2025 White Sox, but failed. Still, this is mostly contemporary White Sox-free: Revisiting the first episode, Sept. 9, 2020, and acknowledging that the first on our Megaphone player is No. 8, that...

To commemorate the 600th Sox Populi Podcast, we had podcasting mainstays Chrystal O'Keefe (Visiting Dugout, Soxy Chicks, Estrogen Power Hour, et. al), Joe Resis (Sox Pop on the Farm) and Melissa Sage-Bollenbach (Ladies' Night) on to discuss the past four-five years of podcasting at Sox Populi and South Side Sox. Brief acknowledgement was made for Sharing Sox (the subject of podcast 601) and Tommy...

Somehow it's been more than 10 months since our last Farm podcast, so we returned with authority — namely, three authorities (Joe Resis, Kristina Airdo, Hannah Filippo) and a host (Brett Ballantini). We spent an hour covering each affiliate ... yes, even the Winston-Salem Dash: An assignment for the missing Melissa Sage-Bollenbach, and a last chance to escape for our newest minors writer, Hannah K...

Friend of the pod Kevin O'Brien is back to talk to Chrystal about a division rival — the Kansas City Royals. After winning a series against the Houston Astros (thanks to the rain!), the White Sox embark on a four-game series against Bobby Witt Jr. & Co. Tune in to hear what Kevin said about the Royals and how this series might play out. Here is what we talked about: What's new with the Royals Rati...

Recording on the day after Luis Robert Jr. stole a grand slam and then knocked in four runs himself, duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and (while he’s in a play in Cincinnati) Ohio Valley correspondent, Will, call for the White Sox to trade Luis before another game is played, taking whatever a contending team will offer. Said urging by people who are very much his fans is not just so the Sox can...

Chrystal hosted fantasy baseball expert Anthony to chat about the Houston Astros and what to expect from the upcoming series. Here is what was discussed: What's new in Houston? How would Anthony rate the offseason? Thoughts about the 2025 season for the Astros Pitching matchups featuring Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, and Lance McCullers Jr McCullers' first start since the 2022 World Series The big...

In the fifth episode of the 2025 season, Kristina Airdo, South Side Sox writer/editor and Sox Populi podcaster, joins host Melissa Sage-Bollenbach and special guest Chrystal O'Keefe to discuss several topics related to baseball, sports, and our beloved — or despised, depending on the day — South Siders. Whether you're a die-hard White Sox fan or not, there's something for everyone. So, sit back, r...

The Chicago White Sox are finally playing a new team, so that means a new episode. I had the incomparable Jordan White on to provide an update on the Milwaukee Brewers and help break down the upcoming homestand. Jordan provided the analytics and keen insight on what to expect: What's new with the Brewers? Rating the offseason, and an old friend alert on the mound Feelings on the season for the Bre...

The Chicago White Sox wrapped up a series in Sacramento by falling from ahead and losing a series with an extra-inning loss — a loss that put them at, you may want to sit down for this, THE EXACT SAME RECORD PACE AS 2024 (if you've been living under a rock, that's 41-121). Seems a good time to sit down, as Brett Ballantini did with Hannah Filippo, and wonder what in the world we are doing followin...

Bayleigh and Chrystal are back to chat about what's going on in Major League Baseball at the moment. Topics: Haters Chrystal got to watch competent baseball, and that's why this episode is late Shohei Ohtani is the first MLB player to become a dad, apparently Aaron Judge and Eugenio Suárez are doing well Jarren Duran stealing home Paul Skenes is pitching out of his mind Lucas Giolito and Liam Hend...